ALMOST 70% of Scots would be supportive of a change to an opt-out transplant system, a new poll suggests.

In a major boost for the Evening Times’ Opt for Life campaign, 68% who took part in a survey said they were in favour of switching to a system of deemed consent.

Across the UK, 65% of people were in favour of the change, which has already led to an increase in donation rates in Wales.

Under an opt-out system, individuals are automatically registered as donors unless they have ‘opted out’ of the system.

Since it was introduced in Wales, 160 organs have been transplanted, almost a quarter of which were down to the change.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on a possible shift to an opt-out system in Scotland.

The poll questioned 2011 people in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland and was carried out by the British Medical Association, which has long supported the change.

It found that while two out of three people (66%) want to donate their organs at death only a third (39%) are signed up to the organ donation register.

In Scotland, 70% of the 186 respondents were happy to donate but only 45% were registered on the Organ Donor Register (ODR).

Under a ‘soft’ opt-out system, family members would still be consulted about the final decision.

Dr Sue Robertson, BMA Scottish Council member and a renal doctor, said: “Although organ transplantation has seen amazing medical achievements it has not yet reached its full life-saving and life-transforming potential.

“These figures show that in the current system, a large number of people who wish to donate their organs are not signing up to the register. Vital opportunities to save people’s lives are being missed.

“In Scotland, 532 people are currently on the transplant waiting list, some of whom will die while they are waiting, whilst others will die without even reaching the waiting list. As a doctor it is difficult to see your patients suffering when their lives could be saved or dramatically improved by a transplant.

“The findings of this poll are an important confirmation that an opt-out system would be supported by the public, and we will be drawing the Scottish Government’s attention to this data in our response to its current consultation on organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

“As the Scottish Government is considering moving to an opt-out system it has the opportunity to transform the lives of people waiting for transplants and it is vital that this opportunity is not missed.”